Our History
History of The Christian City-Wide Women's Uplift Union
The Beginning
The Christian City-Wide Women’s Uplift Union was organized November 18, 1950, at St. John Baptist Church on Gray Ave. Houston, Texas under the leadership of the late Dr. N. C. Crain.
Sister Freda Turner of the Jerusalem M.B.C. was elected as first president. Sister Blanche Hardeman of Damascus Baptist Church, 1st Vice President, Sister Eutha M. Brown of Great Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, 2nd Vice President, Benevolent Secretary, Sister Geneva Thomas, St. John on Dowling, Secretary, Sister Lela Smith, Asst. Secretary, Sister A. B. Maiden, Greater Zion, Treasurer, Sister Bernice Davis, St. John on Gray, Business Manager, Sister Zelma Green, 5th Ward Baptist, Treasurer, Sister Ethel Mosley, St. John on Dowling, Chaplain, Sis Virginia (Jennie) Hurks, Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Publicity.
The Growth
The affiliations with the City-Wide Women’s Uplift were as follows: Jerusalem, St. John on Dowling, St. John on Gray, First Shiloh, Fifth Ward, Damascus, Loyal, Greater Mt. Lebanon, Greater Mt. Olive, and Greater Zion.
These women were an integral part of the Brotherhood Movement. The objective of the Uplift Union is to bring Women up to the standards as set by Jesus Christ and to teach them their place in the Church.
The Movement focused on Christian education, investing thousands of dollars in scholarships for preachers and teachers to study God’s word at Christian institutions.
The City-Wide Women’s Uplift Union has had five Presidents. The leadership of the City-Wide Women’s Uplift Union has been handed down (“The torch is passed … The Work Must Go On)” from its first president Sister Freda Turner of the Jerusalem M.B.C. to Sister Virginia (Jennie) Hurks, of the Greater Mt. Olive M.B.C. and Sis. Elizabeth Pleasant of St. John MBC on Dowling who served as co-presidents to Sister Bernice Fluellen of the Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church to President, Sister Ostella Caldwell of Progressive New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Presently no president has been appointed, however, presently Sister Lillie Allen of The Historic St. John M.B.C. on Emancipation Ave. and Sister Myrtice Turner of Pilgrim Rest M.B.C. serves as Vice Presidents respectfully.
The Purpose of The Women's Uplift Union
“And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed and behold the sepulcher, and how is body was laid” Luke 23:55
During the life of Jesus on earth, most of the time, there were women among the group that followed Him, in the background, but always there, ready to do whatever their hands could do.
According to the custom and culture of that time, women were of the lesser group, limited in their expressions and service, but remained faithful in following Jesus.
The Apostle Paul’s request to the Church in Philippi was “help those women who labored with me in the Gospel’ Phil. 4:3
These women had labored with Paul in his mission of spreading the Gospel message. It is the purpose of the Women’s Uplift to work with the Brotherhood in the spirit of Christ. Rom. 8:9
Helping to promote and support the Brotherhood in its endeavor to strengthen the bond of Brotherly love in every Church according to the directions of the church.
To provide that tender love, care and concern for women who need the love of God expressed toward them through human kindness and help.
The Women’s Uplift should always seek to maintain the “Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace.” Eph. 4:3 to work within the framework of the Brotherhood as fellow laborers in the service of Christ our Lord.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. I Corinthians 1:10 NIV
